Combined carrying and display case



Jan. 10, 1967 NJ. VAN SKYHAWK ETAL 3,297,118

COMBINED CARRYING AND DISPLAY CASE Filed March 10. 1964 5 Sheets-$heet 1 INVENTORS Norma/71 ZWS/AEWZ Josep/z J 1(6/44 J/r mid a .1. I f

fl/VOE/VB N. J. VAN SKYHAWK ET AL COMBINED CARRYING AND DISPLAY CASE Jan. 10, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1964 LN MLV/ w N V 16 WW W Y B Jan. 10, 1967 N VAN s w ET AL 3,297,118

COMBINED CARRYING AND DISPLAY CASE Filed March 10, 1964 3 Sheets-511eet INVENTOR. Norman J [6/7 Sky/zaw United States Patent COMBINED CARRYING AND DISPLAY CASE Norman J. Van Skyhawk, Los Angeles, Calif., and

Joseph J. Kelly, Jr., Brigham City, Utah, assignors to Thiokol Chemical Corporation, Bristol, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 350,730 9 Claims. (Cl. 1901) This invention relates to lug-gage, and in particular to a combined carrying and display case for visual aids or similar items.

The efficacy of visual aids in graphic form as an adjunct to lectures, seminars, etc. is well recognized and established. The primary difliculty with the use of such graphic acids, however, is that they are often of large size for clear visibility to a group of people and, hence, are awkward for a speaker to handle. The general practice is to stack such charts one by one on an easel or makeshift stand from a container as the lecture proceeds. This is not only an awkward process which tends to distract the attention of the audience from the lecture, but also introduces a tedium into the lecture while the speaker goes through the mechanics of placing charts. An alternative common practice is the use of flip charts, a series of charts bound together at the top and supported by an easel in such a manner that the charts may be flipped behind the easel like the pages of a book as the lecture proceeds. Disadvantages of flip charts are that (1) because of their necessarily lightweight material, they tend to curl, easily become multilated, and require special storage containers; and (2) they contribute an inflexible character to a lecture since they must all be bound together in a specific order, and, if there are quite a number of them, a given chart is not easily located by the lecturer.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages in the use of graphic visual aids by providing a carrying case which not only protects the charts from being damaged but also may easily be converted by a lecturer into a display easel for such charts.

Accordingly an object of the invention is to provide a carrying case for graphic visual aids having a construc tion that is of pleasing design, easily carried, and one that will insure protection for the charts,

Another object of the invention is to provide such a case that may not easily be opened by accident.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a carrying case for graphic visual aids that may be readily converted into a display easel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carrying case for graphic visual aids that will promote flexibility to a lecture, minimize distractions, and incorporate an unobtrusive support for a speakers notes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein corresponding parts are designated by identical characters.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the carrying case incorporating the novel features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the case taken on line 2--2 of FIGURE 1 and shown in the horizontal position in which it is placed prior to opening;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the case in approximately the same position as in FIGURE 2, and showing the relative positions of the parts of the case during initial opening;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail showing the pivotal arrangements of the parts;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 3 "ice with the top member rotated through approximately 180 into the position which converts the carrying case into a display easel.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the case with the parts thereof arranged substantially as shown in FIGURE 5, but standing upright and facing the viewer to illustrate its usefulness as a display easel; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the invention is shown applied to a case 7 having the form of a rectangular parallelepiped and consisting essentially of two shell halves, an upper shell half 8 and a lower shell half 10, that fit togather and are releaseably retained in a closed position by a locking member 12 to form a box.

Each of the two shell halves 8 and 10 is in the form of a wide channel having a web 8a and 10a, respectively, side flanges 18 and 20 and right angular flanges 14 and 16 at one end having reentrant portions 14a and 16a. These flanges l4 and 16 extend at right angles to the Webs 8a and 10a of the channels and the reentrant sections 14aand 16a extend in spaced parallel relation to the web to form offset ends of a greater thickness than the remainder of the channel. The channel that comprises the shell half 8 is narrower than that of the shell half 10 so that the side flanges 18 thereof fit inside the side flanges 20 of the opposite shell half 10, shown as the lower half in FIG- URES 3, 4, and 5. These side flanges 18 and 20 are somewhat wider than the thickness of the case 7, and the difference comprises a slight overlap of the flanges when the case 7 is closed. However, at the end portions of the shell halves 8 and 10 formed by flanges 14 and 16, the side flanges 18 and 20 are extended at 22 and 24 to the full thickness of the case to meet the ends of the reentrant sections 14a and 16a of flanges 14 and 16 and form five-sided partial enclosures. On the upper shell half 8, this partial enclosure constitutes a well or chamber 25 for holding display articles, and is formed as indicated above by a thickness side of the case 7 and small adjoining portions of the three sides perpendicular to it. A bar 26 is attached to the edge of this partial enclosure on the lower shell half 10 with approximately half of its width extending beyond the edge of the partial enclosure to form a lip 28. A similar bar 30 is attached in a similar manner to the outside of the opposite edge of the lower shell half 10 to form a lip 32. When the two shell halves 8 and 10 are in a closed position, the edge 34 of the upper shell half 8 is confined under the bar 26, and the edge 36 of the flange 14 is confined under the bar 30.

The locking member 12, in effect, comprises the locking bars 12a and 12b at each side of the case 7 and in the illustrated embodiment the two locking bars are connected together at one end by a cross bar which is adapted to fit into a groove 38 in the flange 16 at. the end of lower shell half 10. The locking bars 12a and 12b extend along both sides of the case 7 and for a short distance beyond the case at the top thereof and are connected by another cross bar to form a handle 40 having a flnger grip 42. Thus, the separate locking bars 12a and 12b are connected together in a single rectangular loop, hereinafter referred to as a locking bar. As best shown in FIGURE 4, the shell halves 8 and 10 and the locking member 12 are assembled into a unified mechanism by pins 44 that extend outwardly from the opposite side flanges of the upper shell half 8 and through the slots 46 in the bar 12a and by pins 48 that extend outwardly from the opposite side flanges of the lower shell half 10 through the slots 50 in the opposite sides of bars 12a and 12b. As shown in FIGURE 3, these separate pin and slot connections are all located adjacent the handle side of the case 7 with the pins 44 and slots 46 being located upwardly on the case either square or rectangular cross-section.

relative to the pins 48 and slots 50. The open-end slots 52 in the flanges 20 accommodate the pins 44 when the case 7 is closed and assist in maintaining the two shell halves in a locked position.

Two blocks 54, see FIGURE 2, are fixed on the flanges 20 near the closed end of the lower shell half and are engaged by the edges of the side flanges of the upper shell half 8 to limit inward movement of the latter and maintain the edge 34 of the upper shelf half 8 in position against the bar 26. The longitudinal travel of the upper shell half 8 is such that the edge 34 may engage only on the guide surface 56 of the blocks 54 to guide the edge 34 of the upper shell half 8 automatically into a position under the lip 28 projecting from the flange 16. This lip .28 on flange 16 acts as-a stop disposed perpendicular to the motion necessary to separate shell halves.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the shell halves 8 and 10 are made of molded glass fibers impregnated with resins as well known in the art; and the members 12, 26, and 30 are made of aluminum bar stock of However, it is obvious that a great variety of rigid materials could be used satisfactorily in the manufacture of a case in accordance with the present invention.

It may be noted that the case 7 has the form of a flat, rectangular parallelepiped with two cooperating channellike sides parallel to the handle 40 and with oflset end flanges on each channel forming a continuation of the other side when the sides are closed, and that the mating edges of the lower shell half 10 (flanges 2t and lips 28 and 32) encompass those of the upper shell half (flanges 14 and 18 and the edge 34).

In the most advantageous practice of the invention, graphic illustrations may be placed face downwardly into the lower shell half 10 with the tops of the illustrations toward the bottom or right hand end of the case 7 as viewed in FIGURE 2. Then, with the locking member 12 held substantially perpendicular to the lower shell half 10, the upper shell half 8 may be rotated about the pins 44 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 to that illustrated in FIGURE 2 until the open end thereof impinges on the blocks 54. The locking member 12 is then rotated about the pins 48 until the lower portion of the bar may be seated in the groove 38 in the bottom of the case. It may be'seen in FIGURE 3 that rotation of the locking member 12 in this manner automatically closes the upper shelll half 8 relative to the lower shell half 10, forcing the open end of the upper shell half 8 along the guide surfaces 56, see FIGURE 2, until the edge 34 of the upper shell half 8 is positioned under the lip 28 of bar 26 on the lower shell half 10. Clearance to enable the locking member 12 to pass over the end flange 16 and fit into the groove 38 is afforded by the length of the slots 46 and 50 in the locking bar. Also, it may be noted that rotation of the upper shell half 8 about the pins 44 from a fully-open position of the case to the closed position thereof requires that the top of the case clear the inside of the lower shell half 10. This may be achieved either by judicious location of the pins 48 on the flanges 20 or by the length of the slots 46.

A very useful feature of the case 7 is that, when it is 'in ,closed position, accidental opening of the case is restricted in all three possible degrees of motion: (1) shear motion between the shell halves in a direction parallel to tween the shellhalves in the same plane, but in a direction perpendicular to the handle is prevented by the seating of the pins 44 in the open-end slots 52, and (3) accidental opening of the shell halves by relative motion in a direction perpendicular to those described is prevented by thetransve'rsally-fixed position of the pins 48 in the slots 50, the locking bar 12 in the groove 38, and by the ferred forms.

, flange 16 against the edge 34 of the upper shell half 8.

The case 7 may be opened by moving the handle 40 toward the case to free the cross bar 12c of locking member 12 from the groove 38. The locking member may then be rotated about the pins 48 away from the groove 38, as shown in FIGURE 3, to separate the shell halves 8 and 10. It may be noted that the end 34 of the upper shell half 8 is automatically withdrawn from under the lip 28 of bar 26 upon rotation of the locking bar 12 be cause of the lever arms 47 created by the spacing of the slots 46 and 50 along the locking member 12 of the handle 40. These lever arms 47 are actually pivoted links which together with the U-shaped lockin-g member 12 rigidly attached to one end thereof and the U-shaped handle rigidly attached on the other combine to form a single, continuous hail of rectangular cross-section that encompasses the case 7. The upper shell half 8 together with the graphic illustrations-therein then may be rotated about the pins 44 into the position shown in FIGURE 5. This a1- rangement renders the case 7 usable as a display easel which can be erected, as shown in FIGURE 6, on a table or other supporting surface. In this position, the easel rests upon the end flange 16 of thelower shell half 10 and on the locking member 12. The upper shell half 8 is supported in an upright position by the bar 30 on the open end of the lower shell half 10, so that the illustrations are facing the audience, and movement of the lock- .half 10, and it also incorporates a stop 62 to limit rotation of the shelf 58 to approximately relative to the lower shell half 10. If the speaker is careful not to rotate the illustrations as he removes them from the upper shell half 8 to the. shelf 58, he automatically maintains the illustrations in their proper order. Also he may use the back of each illustration advantageously for speakers notes pertaining to the subsequent illustration,

A modified embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURE 7, wherein the pins 44 and 48 are mounted in the locking bar 12a and the slots 46 and 50 are located in the flanges 18 and 20 of the upper and lower shell halves 8 and 10, respectively. Also, in this embodiment of the invention, the locking member retaining means (groove 38) is replaced by two small grooves 38a in the sides of the lower shell half 10 near the closed end thereof into prises the handle and locking bars 12a and 11212 are U- shaped rather than rectangular. Otherwise, this embodiment of the invention is identical to that previously described.

A carrying case has been described in detail and with considerable particularity regarding the features of specific embodiments of the invention considered to be' its pre- However, it should be noted that variations may be introduced as equivalents for given features without departing from the spirit and scope of the inven tion, for example; it may be useful as a display easel for an unlimited variety of articles, as well as graphic illustrations; the shelf 58 may be replaced by a plurality of hinged pins or shorter shelves; and various combinations of slots or tracks and pins will work equally as well as those illustrated.

We claim: 1. A combined carrying case and display easel comprising complemental shell halves which cooperate to form a closed case, a locking .bar on at least one side of the complemental shell halves where the edges engage, said locking bar having separate pin and slot connections with each of the shell halves and arranged in spaced relation to each other along the sides thereof, means for latching the locking bar upon sliding movement in one direction to lock the shell halves in closed position and releasing the bar upon movement in the opposite direction whereby to permit both relative sliding movement of the shell halves and pivoted movement of at least one shell half With respect to the locking bar to open the case, said pin and slot connection between one of the shell halves and the locking bar being located a distance from one end of said one shell half less than the distance between said pin and slot connection and the other shell half to adapt said one shell half to rock by the other shell half through an angle of more than 180, and to adapt said locking bar to be rocked relative to said other shell half through an angle of less than 90 to form an easel.

2. A combined carrying case and display easel in accordance with claim 1 wherein a locking bar is provided at each of the opposite sides of the case and provides the sole means for connecting the shell halves.

3. A combined carrying case and easel in accordance with claim 2 wherein the locking bars at opposite sides of the case are connected to each other at one end by a cross bar and said cross bar comprising the latching means for the locking bars.

4. A combined carrying case and easel in accordance with claim 3 wherein the opposite ends of the locking bars are connected by a cross bar which forms a handle for the carrying case when the shell halves are locked in closed position.

5. A combined carrying case and easel in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the shell halves is in the form of a channel having a web and side flange, and the Web of one shell half being wider than the web of the other shell half so that the edges of the flanges on the shell half having the wider web overlap the edges of the flanges of the other shell half to interlock the shell halves against relative lateral movement.

6. A combined carrying case and easel in accordance with claim 5 wherein a transverse flange is provided on each shell half extending between the ends of the flanges of the channel in a generally right angular direction thereto and having an angular extension parallel to the web, the shell halves being arranged in opposed relation so that the transverse flanges on the respective shell halves are positioned at opposite ends of the closed case, and oflset lips projecting from the extension of the transverse flange and end of the web of one of said shell halves to overlie the ends of the web of and flange extension of the opposite shell half and interlock the shell halves against separation normal to the plane of the webs of the shell halves when in closed position.

7. A combined carrying case and easel in accordance with claim 3 wherein the pin of each pin and slot connection projects from one of the shell halves into a slot in the locking bar, the spaced pins moving the shell halves toward each other with a combined sliding and rocking motion as the lock bar is rocked relative to the shell halves, the locking bar being free to slide on the pins when the shell halves are engaged, and the latching cross-bar engaging a recess in the end of one of the shell halves when the cross bar is slid relative to the pins.

8. A combined carrying case and easel in accordance with claim 7 wherein the shell halves are in the form of channels having webs and side flanges, the side flanges on one shell half having slots therein, and the pins on the other shell half entering said slots when the shell halves are closed to interlock the shell halves against separation when the latching cross-bar is engaged in the recess in the shell half.

9. A combined carrying case and easel in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pins are on the locking bar and the slots are in the shell halves, the locking bars are connected at one end by a cross-bar forming a handle and the latching means are pins projecting from the locking bars adjacent the ends and engaging recesses in the end of one of the shell halves.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,663,901 3/1928 Brown 22038 2,549,306 4/1951 Greene 190-l6 X 2,604,959 7/1952 Arbib 190-11 3,082,567 3/ 1963 Gee l1 3,114,574 12/1963 Pryale 297-193 FOREIGN PATENTS 806,718 9/ 1936 France.

191,753 11/ 1907 Germany.

324,894 11/1957 Switzerland.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Examiner. M. L. MINSK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COMBINED CARRYING CASE AND DISPLAY EASEL COMPRISING COMPLEMENTAL SHELL HALVES WHICH COOPERATE TO FORM A CLOSED CASE, A LOCKING BAR ON AT LEAST ONE SIDE OF THE COMPLEMENTAL SHELL HALVES WHERE THE EDGES ENGAGE, SAID LOCKING BAR HAVING SEPARATE PIN AND SLOT CONNECTIONS WITH EACH OF THE SHELL HALVES AND ARRANGED IN SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER ALONG THE SIDES THEREOF, MEANS FOR LATCHING THE LOCKING BAR UPON SLIDING MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION TO LOCK THE SHELL HALVES IN CLOSED POSITION AND RELEASING THE BAR UPON MOVEMENT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEREBY TO PERMIT BOTH RELATIVE SLIDING MOVEMENT OF THE SHELL HALVES AND PIVOTED MOVEMENT OF AT LEAST ONE SHELL HALF WITH RESPECT TO THE LOCKING BAR TO OPEN THE CASE, SAID PIN AND SLOT CONNECTION BETWEEN ONE OF THE SHELL HALVES AND THE LOCKING BAR BEING LOCATED A DISTANCE FROM ONE END OF SAID ONE SHELL HALF LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID PIN AND SLOT CONNECTION AND THE OTHER SHELL HALF TO ADAPT SAID ONE SHELL HALF TO ROCK BY THE OTHER SHELL HALF THROUGH AN ANGLE OF MORE THAN 180*, AND TO ADAPT SAID LOCKING BAR TO BE ROCKED RELATIVE TO SAID OTHER SHELL HALF THROUGH AN ANGLE OF LESS THAN 90* TO FORM AN EASEL. 